Dog Pound to Rehabilitation Center: A Three Hundred Year Journey

The first animal shelters in colonial America were impounds for stray livestock. Eventually, the pound masters took in dogs and the results were frequently tragic. Over time, as livestock became less common in populated areas dogs (and cats) would be the primary focus of the pounds. A burgeoning dog population resulted in massive numbers of strays that were captured, housed and most often euthanized under less than ideal circumstances. The past 50 years have seen substantial progress in providing better care for dogs in shelters...